Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Unconventional And Slightly Strange

It snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed all day yesterday. Apparently the last time it snowed this much was thirty-five years ago. That would have been the year I graduated high school. I walked to school. I don't remember a major snowfall. Yesterday, schools were closed. And some business were closed. But not...

... the pizza company that my son delivers for. PLEASE remember when the weather is yucky and you're ordering in, that someone's kid is driving that car. Maybe mine. Cook instead. Until he started working there, I never even thought about who delivers in yucky weather and now I wonder why I didn't. It's so obvious. Luckily they pulled the drivers off the road mid evening.

The counter-top is mostly finished. I added some more metallic blue and then rubbed a coat of black over the entire surface. This morning, I rolled on the first of two clear coats and it's glossy lovely. Now, I "just" wait six hours and then apply the second coat and then there's a lot of waiting for it to cure to the touch and then to small appliances. Touch is about a day - appliances a week to ten days. I have a sample board to test on things on. Either way, we should be able to put the sink back in tonight.Carefully. With the sink and the island, the kitchen will be manageable while we wait. Last time, I was painting the island too.

I've been working on the Paula Poncho from the knitting book Essentially Feminine Knits. I highly recommend this book. It has some fabulous patterns that especially have interesting backs. The poncho is knit from the top down and is meant to be shorter - just above the waist. I thought I'd measured carefully but mine is a little bit longer than I would have liked...

... and that's okay. I've decided to give it to my friend Rosemarie and make myself another - slightly shorter - variation of the pattern using a purple silk blend. I'm a bit tired of black and grey right now. I'm aiming toward more pops of color and see this poncho as a wonderful substitute for a cardigan with - I hope - a somewhat sophisticated look to it. I want to use the purple version as the starting point for an outfit and pair it with an eccentric skirt. Only what is an eccentric skirt? And what kind of eccentric skirt could I - would I - actually wear? If you have any ideas, links, or pictures of what you see as eccentric, I'd love to see them. Thanks.

In terms of a person's behavior, eccentric means unconventional and slightly strange. When I talked to Diane yesterday in my coaching session, I mentioned that I was debating dropping the word authentic after her description of it as clumsy, stumbling and rather awkward and instead heading more toward eccentric which seemed IMHO more positive. She laughed and said there's no doubt you're eccentric. I found that an interesting comment since I don't see myself as eccentric. I think that I am - and especially my clothing - rather conservative but I do know that a lot of other people, including my husband, do think I'm eccentric. Does that mean that when I get to what I consider eccentric, I'll be way over the edge. Too funny.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - coaching sessions

People go around wearing blinders. They don't want to see reality. The more you look at yourself, the more you will want to make a difference - now.

16 comments:

Love the poncho. I have a similar garment - we call it the Cocoon - and it gets worn all the time. Maybe an eccentric skirt is one that you have draped yourself - something with pleats and patterns and buckles, oh my! When I think of "eccentric" I think of people who do what they want ( in dress or action) without thinking about whether "society" approves or not. Hmmm. Food for thought as usual. Thanks.

The guest instructor at the DOL retreat in June is Sandra Ericson whose known for her draping abilities. I'm looking forward to learning more about that. I can certainly play with fabric though. LOVE your definition of eccentric. I am somewhat there then.

So what if some people think you are eccentric? I've been reading your blog for a couple years and find your thoughts stimulating and creative. Reading your blog is good for me and my rather "safe" life. I know I need to push myself to "think out of the box" in everything I do and your blog gives me that boost. Thank you for being you.

It doesn't bother me if they think I'm eccentric it's just that I didn't think I was or at least not nearly as eccentric as they believe me to be. HOWEVER... if it has to do with walking to your own music, then I'm definitely more there than not. I'm happy to help push you out of the box. Thanks for letting me be me.

I think that you are eccentric, in the sense that you have not only preferences that things look and function in ways that suit you. Ordinary contemporary folks seem to me to not care much about how their home environment looks, or how their clothing fits them, or if they do, they don't *do* anything about it, much less take on a project like painting the countertops in a "perfectly good house"

As far as an "eccentric" skirt to go with the knitted poncho, I would probably design something with gores, and then add inset godets in each of the seams, using texture (either visual or actual) to highlight the godets. That way the skirt would reference the knitted design elements without being an exact copy

OH... I very much care about environment and how I look and if things feel like me or look like me or enhance me. I can see what you mean. I don't relate well to the "oh well" approach. The core ideas for the skirt sound interesting. I saw a skirt in Ashland when I was there that seemed to be sewn from those old lace tableclothes (manufactured lace) with the seams to the outside. Very interesting. Still tickling.

Myrna, I agree very much with Alison. And while she was posting a comment, I was surfing on patterncompany.eu. Have a look at their many skirts. Even though it is all in German, the pattern drawings speak for themselves. And with your love for "bellshaped" skirts you might like the following one: http://www.patterncompany.eu/Roecke/01-794-asymmetrischer-Glockenrock.html

I'll look at that pattern company more. Thanks for the link. I have a skirt pattern with that shape. My next challenge with Sheri and my assignment from Diane are to explore asymmetry. I could fill in the form asymmetrical. Hmm... ? ? ? Thanks.

I look at the poncho as a lovely accent piece. I admit to conservative dressing and have observed young, middle age and older ladies define their eccentric style. I have noted a recurring theme. Those who choose to display one eccentric element of their style look much more curated and less "thrown together." Hope that makes sense. Let me explain. Seeing a very sophisticated white haired lady, probably early 70's in a very upscale mall defined that for me. She was wearing a delicious and simple jewel neck black cashmere sweater with glorious wool trousers that had a slight herringbone pattern. Her poncho was gray, blue and a type of metallic that read as silver fastened with a huge gemstone looking brooch in pink. Stunning. The poncho flared as she walked. Elegant and a little quirky. The same lady could have chosen a blazer or a simple 3/4 length jacket but no, she went for the wild and wooly poncho. Another lady of middle age, shorter, maybe 5'4" or less (my current height) had on a large cabled bulky sweater on top of a gored jumper type dress in many gored prairie style prints and Mary Jane style red shoes. Well, get the hook because this woman looked ridiculous. So in conclusion I suppose that editing where you decide to go eccentric is just as important as how and in my eye one and only eccentric element enhances the outfit rather than detracting from it. I think my age bias is speaking up here because I think most middle age women struggle to find the right 'look.' Most choose a very conservative style and color range to be safe. Stepping out into eccentric is a risk. Good luck with your decision. Look forward to seeing what you decide. As for the painting of the kitchen counter top etc. you are much more brave than I am!

Oh I agree - strongly - there is definitely an over the top, you threw everything at it but the kitchen sink, look that is to be avoided. I think that's one reason why I'm drawn to solid colors, texture, and statement necklaces. The purple colour I'm knitting the second poncho with is dark - not quite eggplant - and would set off a necklace or brooch beautifully and allow the eye to be drawn up to the face. I see it with a black knit top and a skirt which while it might be architecturally interesting does not need to incorporate a gazillion eye catching moments. And then, the shoes don't have to be boring but they don't have to speak too loud either. And in this case - for Sew Expo - they need to be comfortable. Dressing ourselves is such an art form - including the need for balance. THANKS so much for sharing your observations. I want to be the 70's woman.

Hmm... my mother-in-law is eccentric, as used in psychology, in that she behaves outside of "normal" expectations at any given time. I would think of you as eccentric, as used in astronomy, in that you deviate from the circular or elliptical. And in my mind, the latter is an artist's life to strive for - and is probably why your blog posts are ones I never miss reading! Glad you're back. Love the poncho.

Well that's interesting. I didn't even know there were psychological and astronomical ways of defining eccentric. Thanks. If I'm not circular or elliptical, I certainly hope that doesn't leave me square - LOL. Perhaps that's the square peg in a round hole kind of thing. I've been fascinated by the discussion this post generated, especially all the different definitions of eccentric. It seems to mean march to your own drummer to most people.

Myrna Giesbrecht

Welcome. I love to sew... and knit... and read... and talk... a lot... and I love learning especially about creativity and about life. Please feel free to comment. I love the conversation and if you need to, you can email me privately at myrna (at) myrnagiesbrecht (dot) com. If you're wondering what the header is all about, read this posting. Thanks for visiting. - Myrna

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